Fiction. Chunky goth girl Miles and her slim, popular cousin Laura have grown up together on a posh Georgetown estate, as close as sisters. Then Laura--the perfect one--kills herself. Miles is devastated and, after her mom deserts her and takes off for London, plunges into a destructive tailspin of prescription drug abuse and depression. This sometimes brutally intense novel is darker than most of author Rachel Cohn's books (such as the Cyd Charisse saga that begins with Gingerbread), but has authentic and distinctly drawn characters you'll care about and is a must-read if you like stories of loss, family relationships, and survival.

Mystery. Cameryn Mahoney, 17-year-old daughter of a Colorado county coroner, is back in this 3rd (and best so far) forensic mystery in the series that began with The Christopher Killer. Cameryn's long-absent mother has returned, and the two of them are just getting to know one another when Cameryn is called upon to help investigate the death of a young runaway. As the 14-year-old girl's apparent suicide begins to look more like a murder, Cameryn is torn between solving the case and protecting her mother, who, having picked the hitchhiking girl up mere hours before her death, is a prime suspect. The Circle of Blood is just the thing for CSI fans and strong-stomached readers who like fast-paced, suspenseful mysteries.

Fiction. Korean-American teen Joyce Park is jealous of her beautiful, overachieving older sister and longs to attract the attention of JFK--John Ford Kang, a handsome classmate who is oblivious to the monster crush Joyce has on him. When her bossy, nipped-and-tucked Aunt Gomo offers to finance cosmetic surgery that would create western-looking folds in her eyelids, Joyce is torn about what to do. She wants that wide-eyed look...but why does she want it? And is it worth the pain? This revealing story examines ideals of physical beauty and deals with the topic of cosmetic surgery both accurately and with good humor; readers looking for similar tales might enjoy Leslie Margolis' Fix or Dorian Cirrone's Dancing in Red Shoes Will Kill You.

Fiction. In Chanda's Secrets, African teenager Chanda Kabelo brought her AIDS-infected mother home from the bush to care for her as she was dying. As this sequel begins, Chanda, who is still grieving her mother's death, lovingly accepts the responsibility of raising her younger brother and sister. When a warlord from a neighboring country raids Chanda's village, her siblings, Soly and Iris, are stolen and forced to serve as soldiers--and Chanda must risk her own life in order to rescue them. The horrors of war and devastating poverty are described with painful precision in this moving and, ultimately, hopeful story.

Adult Fiction. Sixteen-year-old Jessica Darling believes there is only one person in the world who understands her: her longtime best friend, Hope. After Hope's older brother dies of a heroin overdose, her family moves back to their tiny Tennessee hometown, leaving Jess alone with her angst in Pineville, New Jersey. Without Hope, how can she deal with her father's obsession with her track meets, her oh-so-perfect older sister, and her own nonexistent love life? This realistic picture of high school life and one girl's struggle to remain true to herself will please Sarah Dessen fans who like reading about complex family relationships.

Fiction. Caitlyn is feeling isolated and worthless--her mom and stepfather are about to have a baby, her best friend's time is monopolized by her boyfriend, and her artistic talents seem to be waning--when she meets sexy, exciting Tyler. At first, Caitlyn can't get enough of Tyler, and their new love seems perfect. But as their relationship becomes more serious, Tyler's jealous side starts to show...and then take over. Readers who were blown away by Sarah Dessen's Dreamland will be captivated by Caitlyn's story.

Fiction. Dave is the perfect boyfriend. No, really--he's hot, athletic, smart, popular, sweet, and attentive. So why isn't his girlfriend, Laura, happy? Honestly, she doesn't know. And she's beginning to realize that she has nothing in common with Katie, her accidental best friend, so she has no one to talk to about it. Enter Evan Kirkland, the son of one of Laura's dad's ex-girlfriends. It's been years since Laura has seen Evan, and when he enrolls at her high school, Laura is immediately attracted to him...but how do you leave the perfect boyfriend? If you like Sarah Dessen's complex characters and deep emotional insights, don't miss Bloom.

Novel in Verse. This book tells "the heart-stoppingly riveting story" of 15-year-old Sophie's first love...and her second and third loves as well. "It's not that I'm boy crazy," she says, it's just that Sophie's been "having sort of a hard time / trying to figure out the difference / between love and lust." As she tries to pinpoint her feelings about Dylan (he of the "smoldery dark eyes"), online crush Chaz, and a masked mystery man from the Halloween dance, her parents' marriage is falling apart, but Sophie has best friends Rachel and Grace to keep her sane. Honest, romantic, and a quick, fun read, What My Mother Doesn't Know is sure to satisfy Sarah Dessen fans.

Fiction. Everyone in Tess Whistle's orbit seems to be losing it. Her parents, recently "born again" after a house fire, have moved to a Utah survivalist camp, leaving Tess in the care of her grandmother. Tess' best friend, Zena, is obsessed with destroying a stuffed poodle belonging to her father's girlfriend's daughter. And Tess, embarrassed to be caught with a "juvenile" juice box by ultra-cute Ben, makes up a medical condition to excuse it (and then has to keep up the pretense). It's going to be a weird year, all right--but readers who enjoy humor, wacky plotting, and well-drawn characters will enjoy reading all about it.